Ballymena in line for share of 5,000 public sector jobs
Thursday, 9 October 2008
Ballymena could be in line for a public sector jobs boost if proposals contained in an influential independent report published last week are implemented.
The report, headed by former Queen's University vice-chancellor Sir George Bain, recommends that at least 5000 jobs are moved away from Belfast and suggests that these be spread across six other towns or cities in the province, including Ballymena.
To be implemented over five years, Professor Bain said such a move would create a "better economic balance" in the province.
However, it has also emerged that exact details on how many jobs would be winging their way to the Borough would not be considered until the Stormont Executive had approved the plans.
Ballymena is well versed in the fight for public sector jobs with representatives over the past few months battling to save around 70 based at the HMRC offices in Kilpatrick House.
However, a slice of the report's proposed jobs re-distribution would prove a major boost for local people.
Speaking last week, Professor Bain said: "We believe there should be better economic balance in Northern Ireland, and this is at the heart of our recommendation that there should be some relocation of public sector jobs.
“However, we have also concluded that any movement of jobs should be taken forward in a modest and prudent manner, and that it should be introduced on a phased basis."
He further said: "Our primary consideration is better regional economic balance, ensuring that there is sufficient critical mass to absorb and sustain employment over time and create a coherent career structure for public servants in local areas," said Sir George.
“We believe that these locations and organisations provide this not only for the towns and cities selected but, importantly, the surrounding areas."
Prof Bain also recommended that a series of pilot schemes should take place.
He said: "We have identified a small number of locations across Northern Ireland to which public sector jobs should be relocated and we have recommended that some pilot projects, totalling about 3,000-4,000 posts, should be selected from the list of organisations set out in the report."
The review was commissioned by the Stormont Executive last November after years of concern that too many public sector jobs were centred on the Belfast area, leading to an imbalance in the province's economy.
North Antrim MLA Declan O'Loan described the report as very good news for Ballymena and North Antrim.
However, he warned that the area must not wait for the jobs to drop into its lap and that they will have to be worked for.
The SDLP man said: "I am delighted with this report. At last there are real plans. When I met Sir George, he said that he was going to bring forward real proposals. He has done that.
“He has identified Ballymena as one of six locations for jobs. He has listed thirteen public bodies for location or relocation. Those include a whole government department.
“I support his use of the regional hubs from the Regional Development Strategy. Anything else would have been foolish and a denial of joined-up government.
“But Ballymena and its travel-to-work area can not bask in the glow of this report.
“There must be immediate action, led by the Councils and the MLAs, to make this happen. This requires substantial work on the availability of sites and offices. I will be pursuing this with the Councils."
